Chess Puzzle #ioK2Y — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e2; queen b3; rooks a1/c1; bishop b5; knight c4; pawns a7/b2/d4/e3/f2/g3/h2. Black: king a8; queen d6; rooks d8/h8; bishops d7/f8; knight d5; pawns b6/f4/g5/h3. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe6 — queen d6→e6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxb6+ — knight c4→b6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qxb6 (queen e6→b6, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qxd5+ — queen b3→d5, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Qb7 (queen b6→b7).
4. Best move: Qxb7+ — queen d5→b7, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, discovered attack, exposed king, long, middlegame, queenside attack. The key move Nxb6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: k2r1b1r/P2b4/1p1q4/1B1n2p1/2NP1p2/1Q2P1Pp/1P2KP1P/R1R5 b - - 2 26

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.